Safety device for starting explosive-engines.



No. 855,610. PATENTED' JUNE 4, 1907.

B. R. BA' HRIcKi SAFETY DEVICE FOR STARTING BXPLOSIVE ENGINES.Arr'mouron man saw. a. 1905.

ELLSWORTH- R. BATHRICK, OF'AKRON, orno.

SAFETY- DEVICE Foe STARTING EXPLOSIVE-ENGINEJSI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907. j

Application filed September 8.1906. Serial no. zvaesa To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, ELLswoR'rH R. BATH- RICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residin I at Akron, in the county of Summit an State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for StartingExplosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification; f

has relation to improve Thls invention ments in devices for startingexplosive engines and is capable of use in connection with .eitherstationary engines or engines used to propel a vehicle or boat.

The object of my invention is toproduce a device capable of beingattached (with very slight modifications) to the ends of shafts ofsubstantially all of the ordinary explosive engines now on the market,and which will be capable of being used in the ordinary manner as thecranks now in common use,

both as a revolving and ratchet'crank and also so constructed that upona sudden kick back or back stroke of the engine it will not be jerkedfrom the hand of the operator,-

nor the operator endangered thereby.

The invention further aims to so construct this device that should thecrank" for any reason remain attached to the end' of the shaft of theengine after the same vhas started and is operating under its own power,it will remain motionless in the hands of the'operator and can bereadily drawn out from engagement with the shaft of the enginegradually, and will not revolve if locked into positive engagement withthe shaft as long as the operator retains his grip on the crank-handle.

The invention further aims to comprise in a compact tool, auniversallyada table (levi-re embodying the foregoing a vantages,

and yet be of a simple, strong and durable,

construction of such relative cheapness as to find its way intouniversal use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel ()1lS'tIll:r tl()11, combination and arrangement aceompanyingdrawings which forma part of this specification in which is shown thepreferredembodiment of the invention, but it is to be undertsood thatchanges", variations and modifications can be resorted to which comewithin the srope of the claims hereunto appended.

. lnthe drawings, which similar reference or to one side of the b0 y ofthe vehicle and numerals indicate like parts in the different figures:Figure 1 is a front view of my device with certain portions removed tobetter illustrate the'internal construction thereof, '60

and with the end of the crank arm broken off; Fig. 2 is a section ofEig1 at the line,X';- and, Fig. 3 is a detail of'a portion of the mechanismem loyed in the device. 7

It will be stated in the beginning of the specification of thisdevice'that the descrip larly to ex losive engines use uponauto-'mobiles, alt oughthe application of this de vice to stationary andmarine exploslve engines is entirely within the scope of'tbis in-'vention. j Ordinarily the main engine shaft in auto; mobiles is arrangedto reject to the front" to be situated approximately centrally in anopening in the frame thereof which is customarily provided with ametallic thimble to' revent the application of a crank to the end of theshaft from damaging or marring the wood-work or frame'of the automobilesurrounding-this opening.

Describing this device it will be supposed that an opening exists intheside frame of' the automobile, and centrally in this opening is theend of an engine shaft 1, providedfor the pur ose of illustrating thisapplication, with a aterally projecting pin 2 which is adapted to beengaged by the notchedsocket-head of a crank used for starting therotation of the shaft I of the engine. tached to the frame of-theinstrumentality in which the explosive engine is contained andsurrounding concentricallythe o ening in which the engine shaft 1 isdispose is a cup- 6 tion hereinafter following will a ply particu Jcentral portion of its floor approximately of equal diameter with theopening in which is situated the end ofthe engine shaft 1'. Thiscup-shaped element 3 is'provided at suitable oints with projecting ears4 suitably per-. 1 00 orated to receivebolts or screws by which theelement 3 is firmly retained 1n position.

The outer inner edge 5 of this element. 3 is rounded to present apleasing a pearance" tothe eye and also to assist in gui ing the plac-1o5 ing of the crank-head in position therein. Around the centralopening in the bottom -floor of the element 3 is an annular rabbet 6 fora purpose be later described. It will be stated that the dimensions andconformano tion .of this rabbet 6 may be made to suit:

the various requirements of the crank-head. whlch is to revolve therein.

The inner cylindrical portion of the cupshaped element-3 is providedwith inwardlypr ecting ratchet-teeth 7 which are each preferablyprovided (as shown in the drawmgs) on one side vwith a flat working faceand on the opposite side with a rounded portion.

This element 3 as just described is arranged to be permanently attachedin position around the opening'in which is contained tne end of theengine-shaft. The crank proper which is designed'preferably to be, adetachable de' vice and to have its socket end enter the opening in theframe of the instrumentality in which-the engine is contained in orderto grasp the end of the engine shaft consists of a socket-head 8arranged to engage the end of the engine shaft in any manner desired. As'shown in the drawings, the inner end of this socket-head 8 is providedwith an inclined notch 9 having a rearward square-shoulder 10 which isadapted to engage the pin-2, and when motion is imparted to thesocket-head 8 will cause a rotation ofthe shaft 1, and as soon as theengine isworking'under its own of the cranks which operate theirmachines It will therewith the engine shafts thereof. fore be'apparentthat the socket-head 8 of the device will be altered to adapt itself tothe peculiar conformation imparted to the end of the engine shaft ofeach particular maker; The socket-head 8 is provided with anoutwardly-flaring enlarged head 11, adj a centto which and outsidethereof is formed in this socket-head a series of'ratchet-teeth' 12which may be of the sames ha'pe as is given to the ratchet-teeth7,0n'the element 3.

' nto the outer. end of the rabbet 14 in the outer. portion of its heada purpose to be stated. 7

Surrounding the ratchet teeth 12 and adapted to fitin the rabbet 14 inthe head of the nut 13 is a ring 15 which is rigidly secured to acrank-arm 16, on the outer end of which is placed a crank-handle (notshown in the drawings for want of space) but as its form is of the usualtype, its illustration in the dnawings is deemed to be unnecessary forthe complete understanding of this device. .This ring 15 is adapted toberevolved by the socket-head 8 screwed a' largeflat-headed nut 13 having.a or manipulation of the crank-arm 16 in the di-- rection of the arrow.

In a selected portion of the ring 15 isa circumferentially-arrangedpocket 17 in which is contained the mechanism for engaging not only theratchet-teeth 12 on the socket-head 8, but also the ratchet-teeth 7 inthe cupshaped element 3. at the top or outer portion and is, close atthe bottom by a floor 18 through which eX- ists an opening 19 for apurpose to be stated. This pocket 17 is further closed on both of itssides by-the material of which the ring 15 i1? composed, as will-be seenby r'eference'to Extending approximately centrally and transverselythrough the pocket 17 is a pin 20 on which is mounted a rocking dog 21having a slotted central portion in which is placed a pawl 22 arrangedto be pivoted on the pin-20 formed in approximately the shape of abellcrank and having an outwardly-extending leg adapted to en age-theratchet-teeth 7 on the element 3. e opposite leg of the pawl 22 isadapted to engage the under face of the. .dog 21 and to raise the samewhenever the pawl 22 engages the flat working-face of the ratchet-teeth7. A spring. 23 serves to force upwardthe horizontal-leg of the pawl 22and keep it close to or in substantial engagement with the under face ofthe dog 21, excepting I when this legof the pawl 22 is depressed byreason of the en agement of the other leg of the awl 22 wit the-roundedfaces of the rate et-teeth 7.

Extending across near the top of the pocket 17 isa bar 24 which servesas a stop, so placed as to encounter one of the ends of the dog 21,which is shaped to properly engage thisbar 24 and is held normally incontact therewith by means of a spring 25'.

From the description thu's far given, it'

will be seen that owing to the influence of the spring 25 the partsheretofore described will normally remain in the position shown inFig. 1. The opposite end ofthe dog 21, hereinafter designated by thereference character 26 is arranged to normally lie substantiallyconcentric and within the normal confines of the exterior periphery ofthe ring 15 and wholly within the pocket 17.

. Extending across the pocket 17 andadjacent to the end 26 of the dog 21is an irrevoluble pin 27 on which is a semi-circularlyformed hollow pawl28, the general shape of which is shown in Fig. 3. Aspring 29 isconnected with the cross-pin 27 and with the,

This pocket 17 is 0 en Ilc.

ranged to swing through the opening 19 in the floor 18 of the pocket 17of the ring 15 and lie The foregoing description refers to the usu aloperatio'nwhere nothing happens. however, on the contrary,'in attemptingto remove the socket-head 8 from. connection with the shaft 1 it shouldstick and: thereby have a tendency to jerk the arm 16 away from thegrasp of the op to revolve n unis in the path of the ratchet-teeth 12 onthe socket-head 8. It will be stated that the exterior diameter of thering 15 is such as to nicely fit and be revolved in the rabbet '6 in thebase-portionof the cup-shaped element 3, and this rabbet 6 serves toproperly steady the ring 15 when being revolved by means of thecrank-arm 16.

It will be noted that the ring 15 is securely held imposition betweenthe enlarged flaringhead '11 of the socket-head 8 and the head of thenut 13, so that when removing the ring 15 and placing it in position,using the crankarm 16 as a handle, the socket-head 8 will becarriedthereby and the two when united will constitute the crankhead ofthe device.

In starting an engine with this device the handle on the arm 16 attachedthereto is grasped by the operator and the socket-head 8' connected withthe end ofthe-engine shaft 1 1 and revolved sufliciently in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1 to cause'in this illustration theshoulder 10 to securely engage the pin 2 on the shaft 1'.

In placing the device iriposition as just described, care willhe takento insert the outwardly-extending point of the pawl .22 and the lowerend of 'the pawl 28 respectively between the'ratchet-teeth 7 and' theratchet-teeth 12. When the crank-head is properly in place, the partswill be in the position indicated in Fig. 2. After closing the electriccircuit to the firing-plug or igniter, the arm'16 is revolvedin thedirection of the arrow which turns the shaft 1 in a similar direction bymechanism to be described. -As' soon as the revolution has started, theexplosions commence in the cylinder'and the crate under its own power.

on W1 h the rapid rotation take place: If the grasp of the operator uponthe handle onthe crank-arm 16 is reasonably firm, the rear rounded facesof the ratchetteeth 12 on the socket-head 8 will encounter the roundedrear edg swing it out from the opening 19, and the rapid passage of theteeth 12 wilLthereafter serve to maintain it in this position until theoperator can-either work the entire'crankhead free from the sh engine.1t .will be obvious of course, that the encountering of the rounded faceof the rearof the pawl 28 wi .upon the ring 15 and arm slight'restraintupon the part ofthe operator is needed to keep the crankarm stationary.-

As soon as the operat the crank-head after the pawl will return in ,Fi1, by reaso taine therein. 7

If for any reason in starting an explosive engine, it kicks'back orreverses its stroke as they sometimes will do, the eth 12 on thesocket-head 16 that only a very the foregoing operation, to the positionindicated 11 of the spring 29 con ring 15 and crank-arm 16 in adirection reverse to the arrow. As soon as this starts, the outerextended leg of the pawl 22 will engage the working-face o teeth 7 andthis engagement will cause the oppositeleg of the pawl 22 tokick'outward and throw the end 26 of the dog 21 outwardly .fromengagement wi the ratchet-teeth 12 topush the awl fr the opening 19 andout of their pat be obvious therefore, that the only distancewhich akickback on the part of the engine would cause to the brank-arm 16 willdistance traversed before the outer extended leg of the pawl 22 willmove before encountering one ofthe working-faces of the ratchetteeth' 7,and as these ratchet-teeth are relatively ve close together, this.distance will be very s 'ght lv It will be further apparent,

that instea of revolving the crank-arm continuously in a circle to startan engine, it may be wor ed as a ratchet-crank by working the arm 16backward, allowing the pawl 28 to and tothen engage one, and the reversemotion of the arm willv cause a simultaneous movement of the socket head'8 and shaft 1,

engine will then op In moving the crank-arm 16 in the direction of the'arrow,,a similar motion of course willtake. place in the ring15, andthe outer-extended end of the pawl 22 will rideover the rounded ends ofthe ratchet-teeth.7 and will not engage them, this being permitted byreason of the compression of the spring .23. It will be obvi us ofcourse, that the movement of the pawl 22 will not affect the posi-- tionof )he dog 21 which willbe in the posivion sho vinFig. 1, and the pawl28 will. also 0 in the position shown in this figure with its upperouter 1d abutting against the end 26" of t '2 dog 21 audits lower endproje'cting into the opening or bore in the ring 15 teeth 12, and as theIt will 11:. which are the ratchetring 15 continues its movement, thelower end of the pawl 28 will engage one o the teeth 12 and cause asimultaneous movement of the entire socket-headS, which also rotates theshaft 1. As soon as the engine is under sulllcient head-way, theoperator by a *slight upward pull releases the socket-head 8 or shallhave removed the pawl 28 and force the f erator and cause 1t of'theshaft 1, the following operation Wlll' e of the pawl 28 and,

fl exert such a slight pull f one of the ratchetbethe pass over aselected number of teeth 12 'from engagement with the shaft 1 andwiththe pawl in"this illustration being used as an draws the entirecrank-head from its seat in ordinary on'e'on ordinarily ratchet-teeth.-65 the cup-shaped element 3. Hav mg thus describedmy invention,

what 3 -I claim and desire to secure by Letters .Pat-f ent, is

1. A device for imparting an 1n1t1al start to ex losive' engines,OOmpIISIII means for attac ng'said device. to a suitable part of anengine, saidattaching means being provided .with ratchetteeth, acrank-arm provided with an annularly-forined headarrangedto 'surroundsaid attaching means adjacent said ratchet-teeth, a pawl carried bvs'aidannular head arranged to engage said ratchet teeth, means to lock saidpawlwhereby saidpawl will operatively enga e said ratchet-teeth whenoperated in one irection and inoperatively engage saidteeth when themotion thereof is reversed, and means to' release said means fromengagement with said pawl when a -reversemotion is imparted to-saidconnecting means. I

2. A device forimparting an initial start to explosive engines,comprisin meansfor connecting said. device to-asui tab e part of anengine, said connecting means beingprovided with :ratcheteteeth; .acrank-arm provided with an annularly-iformed head-to encircle theratchet-teeth of said" connecting means;

, a pawl carried by saidaiinularly' formed head, said pawl beingarrangedto operatively. {engage sald' ratchet-teeth when; said annuy-formed headis revolved ,in one direc tion and to inoperatively engage said ra'tcliet'-- I teeth whenthe motion thereof isi'eversed, a. locking" dog"arranged. to jengagesaid awl, 'asecond pawl adapted to release sai do'35- from engagement withs'aid first pawLan meanstocause'the operationof said second awl when the motion of vsaidv a'nm'ilarlyihr'med head isreversed. 3. In a device for imparting an initial start to explosiveengines, comprising means for connecting said device with-a suitablepart of an'engine, said connecting means being 'rovided with ratchetteeth, an annnlarl ormedcrank-head adapted to surround t eratchet-teeth. onsaid connecting meanspawl carried: by said crank-headarranged to engage said ratchet-teeth, a dog to lockjsa'id pawl wherebya positive engagement is aforded' between said-crank-head; andsaidratchet-teeth, a second pawl arranged to trip said dog andrelease-said first pawl whnthe motion of said crank-headis reversed, anin closing element "to surround said .crank head provided withratchet-teeth on itsinner portion arranged to operatively .engage said'second lpawl when the'motion oflsa id crank headisreversed.- I a v 4. Adevice forimparting aninitial start range .to GXPlOSlVQ engines,comprising; means for attaching said device to asnitable part of anengineysaid connecting means being provided with ratchet-teeth, anannularl formed crank-head arranged to inclose t e ratchet-teethfbn'said connecting means, a; s.

pawl carried bysaid annularl -f0rmed crankead to operatively engageSit-1d ratchet-teeth, I

means to normally hold said pawl in a posidog'in aposition to engagesaid pawha secondpawl adapted to trip said. dog and release the" pawlwhen t emotion of said crank-head is,

engagement wit ment with the ratchet-teeth on said connect-f ingmeansgjjl a 5.. A-devi'ce for imparting an initial. start,

to explosive engines, comprising means for l. gconnectingsaid devicewithaj suitable art of an engine, an annnlarly-formed cra' -head j Iarranged to encircle said connecting means,

etioneto engage said'ratchet-teeth, a dog; to locksaid'pawl in position,means to keep said 'same'from engagement with said first pawh. andaclplnrality of encircling ratchet-.teetharto o eratively engagesaidsecond. I v

. 7 reversed whereb said dog is released from r said first pawl; andsaid.

vfirst pawl released from operative engages? l means carried by saidcrankehead to opera? and to 'be inoperative when the motion.

thereof is reversed, and means to release said engaging means upon'areversal of the motion of said .crankehead. I

6. A leviee for imparting connecting saiddev'ice with a suitable part ofan iengine.,- said connecting means being provided; with ratchet-teeth,an 'annnlarly- 'tivelycngagesaid connecting means when I "saidcrank-head s' operated 1n one direction,

.an initial Sim to explosive engines, comprising-means for I formedcrank head adapted .to encircle-said ratchet-teeth, a pivoted pawlcarried by-said crank-head with its lower endin a position tooperatively engage saidratchet-teeth, means tomaintain said pawlnormally in a position ment with said first p'awLLa'nd a plurality of toengage said ratchet-teeth, a dogto enga e; f i the upper end of saidpawl, means to lim'it t e motion of said dog; asecondf pawl adapted toengage and release said'dog fromengageencirclingratchet-teeth'arranged'to"ope'ra-- pawl 'tively engage said second hen-the notionofsaid crank-head is reversed.

In' testimony Whereofl hav hereunto se presence of two -snb'scribingwit-.-

iio

